Pangolins ~ Most Illegally Traded Mammals In The World

The word 'pangolin' derives from the Malay word 'pengguling' which means 'something that rolls up'.Pangolins can be found in India..China..Southeast Asia..and..Africa.

There are eight species of pangolins.Four pangolin species considered vulnerable are (i)Tree@African White-Bellied Pangolin (ii)Giant Ground Pangolin (iii)Cape@Temminck's Ground Pangolin (iv)Long-Tailed@Black Bellied Pangolin

Two pangolin species considered as endangered are (i)Indian@Thick-Tailed Pangolin (ii)Palawan@Philippines Pangolin

The other two pangolin species considered as critically endangered are (i)Chinese@Formosan Pangolin (ii)Malayan@Sunda Pangolin

Pangolins are solitary nocturnal mammals.
Long-tailed pangolins..on the other hand..are diurnal mammals.

Pangolins poor vision makes them rely more on smell and hearing.

Pangolins size range between 30 to100 centimetres.Female pangolins gestation period range between 70 to 140 days.

Female African pangolins give birth to a single baby pangolin at a time.

Female Asiatic pangolins gives birth to one to three baby pangolins at a time.

Pangolins' habitats includes tree hollows..burrows..and..dig tunnels.

Pangolins are insectivores and eats mainly ants and termites.A single pangolin can eats up to 70 million insects per year.

The threat factors that decreases the numbers of world pangolins are..(i)Pangolins meat and scales hunting (ii) Loss of habitats due to deforestation (iii) Pangolins are world most trafficked mammals.

More fascinating pangolins facts.